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THE domestic cricket season ends today with Bulawayo teams missing from the National Cricket League final which will see Masvingo taking on Country Club at Harare Sports Club.Bulawayo giants Emakhandeni Cricket Club and Queens Sports Club failed to make it beyond the group stages and will have to endure another year before competing for the top honours next season.
A disappointed Emakhandeni Cricket Club captain John Nyumbu praised his charges for dominating in the Bulawayo circuit and said they would come out stronger next season. The spin bowler, who has won three Logan Cup titles with Matabeleland Tuskers, said most youngsters in his team gained valuable experience playing in the National Cricket League.
“Just like any other club we wanted to be in the final but then things didn’t go the way we expected them to. The guys are disappointed because we really thought that this was going to be our year to show that as Bulawayo champions we can compete equally with other clubs from across the country. Even though we are out, I think there were positives in the sense that the guys gave their best with the youngsters like Matabeleland Tuskers Under-19 captain Bruce Sibanda gaining valuable experience in playing with the guys that compete in the Logan Cup as well as national teams,” said Nyumbu.
Emakhandeni had among Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise players Brian Chari who had a terrific season with the former Logan Cup champions, fringe players Thabo Mboyi, Stephen Chimhamhiwa and Titus “Hooper” Chipare.
Victor Mhlanga, Queens Sports Club chairman, said they need to have more games next season so that their players go for the national league with adequate game time. “In the past we used to have a B league and that is where we drew most of our players but now that we only play club cricket, the number of matches has dwindled. I believe that we have to keep our guys active so that we get the best out of them,” Mhlanga said.
Bornaparte Mujuru, Kudzi Banda and Freedom Takarusenga are some of Matabeleland Tuskers fringe players that featured for Queens Sports Club.
Online Reporter